2024 Annual Report Draft

Buildings and landscape

Provincial housing bills and Courtenay’s community planning

In December 2023, the provincial government passed Bill 44, the Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act. This Act requires local governments to conduct 20-year Housing Needs Reports every five years and use that information to update Official Community Plans (OCPs). Additionally, local governments must zone sufficient land to meet housing needs, with an emphasis on infill housing. This legislation requires local governments to align and regularly update community-wide information and plans related to housing needs, land capacity, zoning, community infrastructure and development finance. Through this framework, the province aims to increase housing supply, create more diverse housing options over time and contribute to more affordable housing across B.C. These provincial housing bills collectively influenced a number of City activities undertaken in 2024 and will continue to inform staff work plans into 2025 and beyond. Bill 44 Housing Statutes (Residential Development): The provincial government directed local governments to permit up to four small-scale, multi-unit housing (SSMUH) units on properties zoned for single residential or duplex use. Bill 16 Housing Statutes Amendment Act 2024: Bill 16 allows local governments to require the dedication of adjacent land and improvements, including services such as benches, transit bays, underground wiring, street lamps, parklets, rain gardens, EV charging stations, bike parking facilities and active transportation infrastructure. Key legislative changes:

Piercy Avenue, Courtenay

Bill 46 Housing Statutes (Development Financing): Bill 46 provides additional development financing tools to support growth, including: • Development Cost Charges (DCCs) to help pay for infrastructure required to service developments. In addition to water, sewer, drainage and roads, the province has expanded the scope of infrastructure eligible for DCC funding to include fire protection facilities (e.g., fire halls), police facilities, solid waste facilities and cost-shared provincial highway projects. • Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs), a new tool that allows local governments to collect funds for community amenities such as community centres, libraries, daycares and public squares.

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City of Courtenay | 2024 Annual Report